Canadian Experience Class
CRS calculator for CEC: score your profile as a worker in Canada
If you have a year of skilled work in Canada, the Canadian Experience Class is usually your fastest route to permanent residence. Work out your CRS score, check you meet the CEC rules and see what your Canadian work is worth.
Updated
- Free, no sign-up
- Rules as of June 22, 2026
- Sample CEC scores below
How is the CRS calculated for the Canadian Experience Class?
Exactly the same way as for every Express Entry candidate: up to 1,200 points for age, education, language, work experience, your partner and additional factors. What makes CEC profiles different is Canadian work experience, which earns points on its own (up to 80) and again in skill transferability (up to 100 with education or foreign work). To be eligible you need 1,560 hours of skilled TEER 0 to 3 work in Canada in the 3 years before you apply, and CLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs or CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs.
- Canadian work needed
- 1,560 hours in 3 years
- Language minimum
- CLB 7 or CLB 5
- Proof of funds
- Not needed
- Education
- Not required
Canadian Experience Class requirements
- One year of skilled work in Canada in the last 3 years: 1,560 hours, full-time or part-time, in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job. Count your hours.
- The work was paid and done with temporary resident status and work authorization.
- Language: CLB 7 in every ability if your experience is in a TEER 0 or 1 job, CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3. Check your CLB level.
- You plan to live outside Quebec.
What does not count as Canadian work
- Self-employment, including contract work you invoiced as your own business. Some physicians providing publicly funded care are the exception.
- Work done while you were a full-time student, such as co-op terms or part-time jobs during your program.
- Unpaid internships, volunteer work and hours over 30 a week.
- TEER 4 and 5 jobs. Check the TEER of your job.
What CEC candidates typically score
Each example is scored with the same formula as the calculator, without a provincial nomination.
| Candidate | Profile | CRS score |
|---|---|---|
| College graduate on a PGWP | 26, single, two-year Canadian diploma, CLB 7, 1 year of Canadian work | 357 |
| Same graduate, CLB 9 | As above, with CLB 9 in every ability | 425 |
| University graduate | 28, single, bachelor's from Canada, CLB 9, 2 years of Canadian work | 487 |
| Worker with foreign experience | 32, single, bachelor's (with ECA), CLB 8, 1 year in Canada, 3 years abroad | 422 |
| Couple | 31, bachelor's, CLB 9, 2 years in Canada; partner with a bachelor's and CLB 7 | 434 |
Language makes the biggest difference. Moving from CLB 7 to CLB 9 in the example above is worth 68 points, more than four extra years of Canadian work. See what CLB 9 takes on each test.
Your Canadian work counts three times
Core points
Up to 80 points (70 with a partner) for five years of skilled Canadian work in the last 10 years. The first year alone is worth 40.
With education
A post-secondary credential plus 2 years of Canadian work earns up to 50 skill transferability points.
With foreign work
Foreign experience plus 2 years of Canadian work earns up to 50 more. Both groups together are capped at 100.
CEC draws and category draws
IRCC holds draws for the Canadian Experience Class alone, and CEC candidates can also be invited in general draws and category draws. If your Canadian work is in healthcare, trades, STEM or another listed field, check whether your NOC code is on a category list. Strong French opens French-language draws too.
Cut-offs change from draw to draw. Compare your score with the recent CEC draws on IRCC’s rounds of invitations page.
Common CEC profile mistakes
- Claiming a year before you have the full 1,560 hours. A profile with 1,500 hours shows 0 years of Canadian work.
- Counting hours from a full-time study period, even if you had a work permit.
- Choosing a NOC code from your job title instead of your duties. Your reference letter has to match the code. Find the right code.
- Letting a language test expire. Results are valid for 2 years, and they must be valid on the day you apply.
- Forgetting your Canadian study points. A one or two year credential adds 15, three years or more adds 30.
Where this information comes from
CRS points come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Comprehensive Ranking System criteria, as modified on June 22, 2026.
Language test conversions come from IRCC, Express Entry: language test results, as modified on June 22, 2026.
Work experience rules come from the IRCC program pages for the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
CVMaple is not affiliated with IRCC. This calculator gives an estimate; your official score is the one in your Express Entry profile. Rules change, so check the IRCC pages before you rely on a number.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CRS different for CEC candidates?
No. Every Express Entry candidate is scored with the same CRS formula. CEC candidates tend to score well on Canadian work experience and Canadian study, which are worth more than many people expect.
Do I need proof of funds for the Canadian Experience Class?
No. CEC candidates do not need to show settlement funds. Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades candidates do, unless they are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer.
Does part-time work count for CEC?
Yes. Part-time hours add up to the same 1,560 hours, for example 15 hours a week for 2 years. Hours over 30 a week do not count, and only hours in the last 3 years count for eligibility.
Does work on a PGWP count?
Yes, if it is paid, skilled (TEER 0 to 3) work done after you finished your studies. Work during your program as a full-time student does not count.
Can I apply for CEC with a TEER 4 or 5 job?
No. Only TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts. Some provincial nominee programs accept TEER 4 and 5 work.
When does my Canadian work turn into a year?
The day you reach 1,560 hours. Update your profile then, because the first year adds 40 points (35 with a partner) plus any skill transferability points. Find your date.
Your Canadian work is also your strongest resume.
CVMaple builds a Canadian resume from the same duties as your NOC code and reference letters, so your applications tell one story.
Express Entry tools and guides
- CRS Calculator 2026: Your Express Entry score from real test scores, and the changes that would raise it. Free.
- Canadian Work Experience Calculator: Count your hours toward 1,560 for the Canadian Experience Class, part-time included.
- CRS Score Chart: Every Express Entry points table: age, education, language, work and extra points.
- How to Improve Your CRS Score: Language, French, work, ECAs and nominations, each priced in real CRS points.
- CLB Calculator: Convert IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF and TCF scores to CLB and NCLC levels.
- PGWP Resume Guide: Present your Canadian degree and co-op work while your permit clock is running.